Chapter 3 - THE NOTEDaniel searched the house for an explanation.
He found one beneath the mattress.
A folded piece of paper.
His name was written across the front.
Daniel.
His fingers tightened around it.
He opened it.
There were only six words.
You were never supposed to come home.
Daniel read it twice.
Then a third time.
His blood ran cold.
He turned toward the hallway.
Emma was standing there.
“Daddy?”
Daniel quickly folded the note.
“It's okay.”
But Emma knew her father.
She could see fear in his eyes.
“Is Mommy mad?”
Daniel swallowed.
“No.”
“Is Mommy coming back?”
He didn't know how to answer.
Before he could speak, headlights swept across the living room wall.
A car stopped outside.
Daniel pulled Emma behind him.
The front door didn't open.
Instead, someone knocked.
Three times.
Slowly.
Daniel didn't move.
The knocking came again.
Three times.
Then a man's voice came through the door.
“Daniel Carter?”
Daniel stared at the lock.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Marcus Reed.”
Daniel didn't recognize it.
“I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
A pause.
“Your wife.”
Daniel's chest tightened.
He looked at Emma.
The little girl was clutching Cooper's collar.
Daniel whispered, “Stay here.”
He opened the door only a few inches.
Marcus stood beneath the rain.
He was in his fifties, wearing a dark coat.
And his face carried the expression of someone who had arrived too late.
“You need to take your daughter and leave this house,” Marcus said.
Daniel stared at him.
“Why?”
May you like
Marcus looked past him toward Emma.
“Because if they discover she is still alive, they will come back.”
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